Mass wedding gains popularity worldwide (PHOTOS)

Mass weddings are increasingly becoming common worldwide and sometimes are preferred over regular weddings by couples because of economic reasons, as the costs for the venue, decorations, and sometimes celebrations afterwards can be shared between multiple families.

Mass weddings are common in Asian countries, especially China, Japan, Korea and India and some parts of the Middle East.

The last few years, several mass weddings have taken place around the world.

In 2009, 450 couples got married in Gaza with the blessing of the Hamas. each groom received a gift of $500 from Hamas.

On September 9, 2010, 163 couples got married in Taipei, Taiwan's capital. The reason? To celebrate the 9th day of the 9th month of the 99th year since the founding of Taiwan. Besides, the number nine called Geiu is auspicious in Chinese as it sounds like the word longevity.

On January 1, 2011, 100 couple assembled outside Taipei's Presidential Palace and took part in a mass wedding presided over by the Taiwanese president, in celebration of the self-ruled island's 100th anniversary.

On April 29-30, 2011, over 400 couples got married on the grounds of Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University as part of university's centennial celebrations. Among the couples in the two-day mass wedding, there were both faculty members and graduates.

On May 7, 2011, 350 couples in La Paz, Bolivia, got married in a coliseum. Bolivian President Evo Morales presided as the best man in the Andean mass wedding.

On June 23, 2011, about 40 gay and lesbian couples exchanged vows in Brazil to set a new world record for a mass gay wedding. Brazil's Supreme Court had recognized same-sex partnership in May.

Mass wedding is not limited to humans alone. On June 25, 2011, 124 dogs joined together in muttrimony but failed to break the world record for the largest mass dog wedding, falling short by about 230 dogs.

Check out the photos below of the mass weddings that took place around the world:

Muslim brides show their hands decorated with henna paste as they wait for the start of a mass marriage ceremony in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 6, 2011. A total of 151 Muslim couples from the across the Gujarat state took wedding vows on Sunday during the mass wedding ceremony organized by a Muslim voluntary organization, organizers said.Reuters

Brides and grooms leave after a mass wedding ceremony in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek May 7, 2011. The wedding, held for 20 couples who could not afford their own celebrations, was sponsored by the Kyrgyz government as a gift to mark the 66th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany that will be celebrated on May 9Reuters

Chinese bridal couples kiss after their symbolic wedding in Fuessen June 3, 2011. 31 Chinese couples who already got married in China, travelled to Germany to repeat their promise of marriage at Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most popular destinations in Europe.Reuters

A priest (L) gives instructions to a newly married couple as they take their wedding vows during a mass marriage ceremony in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad August 14, 2010. A total of 79 couples said their vows in the ceremony, organizers said.Reuters

A couple takes pictures during an indigenous mass wedding ceremony in La Paz, May 7, 2011. About three hundred couples attended the ceremony organized by Bolivia's Culture Minister Elizabeth SalgueroReuters

Couples participate in a group wedding ceremony hosted by the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo May 11, 2010. Thirty four couples participated in the ceremony held inside the pavilion's classical French-style gardens. One lucky couple was chosen in a lottery to honeymoon in the French city of Tours and the Loire Valley, according to France's official Expo website.Reuters

Zheng Ya-yuan (L), 32, and Chang Hong-chang, 31, who have been dating for six years, kiss during a mass wedding ceremony at the Taipei Flora Expo Hall September 9, 2010. A mass wedding ceremony was held for 163 couples on Thursday on the ninth day of the ninth month in the 99th year since the beginning of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The date which makes out to 9.9.99 is an auspicious number as the number "9" (pronounced jiu in Chinese) is a homophone that means long lasting.Reuters

A white Fiat van rammed into pedestrians outside enjoying a late afternoon stroll on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Thursday killing at least 13 people and leaving hundreds injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.